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	Dunlop, Silmser Contact Would Have Been Crux of Questions By Terri Saunders SQLFusion [Canada] April 20, 2007 http://www.theinquiry.ca/Silmser_inabsentia_Callaghan.hide.php As expected, a significant portion of cross-examination of David Silmser at the Cornwall Public Inquiry by lawyers for the city police would have focused on the man's contact with former cop Perry Dunlop. In attempting to show Comm. Normand Glaude Silmser had contact with Dunlop or members of his family on several occasions, John Callaghan pointed to documents which appear to contradict Silmser's own timeline of when he would have spoken with the former police officer. Callaghan pointed to testimony Silmser gave earlier this year at the inquiry when he suggested he didn't believe he'd ever met Dunlop prior to an incident in August 1996 when the man showed up on his doorstep with Carson Chisholm, Dunlop's brother-in-law. "He (Chisholm) just showed up," said Silmser. "Did you know who he was?" asked Peter Engelmann, lead commission counsel. "No," said Silmser. "I don't know if I met Perry before. I don't think so. "I think that was the first time." "But you had heard of him?" asked Engelmann. "Yes," said Silmser. On Thursday, Callaghan pointed to documents provided to the inquiry by both the Cornwall Community Police Service and the Children's Aid Society which seem to suggest Silmser had some form of contact with Dunlop's wife, Helen, as early as 1993. Silmser has testified he was receiving calls from a woman around that time whom he later determined was Helen Dunlop. "I would have suggested that was not a pleasant communication," said Callaghan, referring to the fact Silmser has testified he was bothered by the initial calls and wondered how Helen Dunlop had gotten his phone number. Callaghan also referred to notes made by Richard Abell, executive director of the CAS, and Const. Dave Bough with the city police, in the summer of 1995 in relation to communications they'd had with Silmser. "(Both notes) contain references to Carson Chisholm," said Callaghan, who also pointed to the fact another witness at the inquiry, John MacDonald, testified he had actually visited city police headquarters in the early fall of 1995 with Carson Chisholm, a man he'd met through Silmser. "I would have asked (Silmser) what his involvement was with arranging contact between Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Chisholm and I would have inquired further as to what his understanding was of the relationship between Mr. Chisholm and Mr. Dunlop." Callaghan said Silmser has testified about contact he had with Dunlop in 1996 when the former officer's wife repeatedly implored him to meet with Dunlop in relation to Silmser's allegations he'd been sexually abused as a child by Rev. Charles MacDonald. Charges laid against the priest were stayed in 2002. "I would have queried further into that communication, whether he understood these to be official police investigations and what he understood Const. Dunlop's role to be," said Callaghan, who pointed to documents which show the meeting in Toronto included Dunlop, Silmser and a lawyer Dunlop had hired to represent him in a civil matter. "I would have asked him whether notes were taken at that meeting by anybody other than Mr. Dunlop, what other discussions took place with (the lawyer) or Dunlop and whether they told him (Silmser) it was (in reference) to (a) lawsuit." Silmser testified at the inquiry in late January and early February. In the middle of cross-examination, Silmser refused to return to the inquiry and doctors later determined doing so would be detrimental to his health. Lawyers representing parties at the hearings who did not have a chance to question Silmser on the evidence he gave while on the witness stand spent this week putting documents and statements before the commission in an effort to present contradictory or clarifying evidence. The inquiry will resume Thursday..
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